Trunk and hinge therefor



fNo Moden) F. KEIPBL. TRUNK AND HINGE THBNEPON.

Patented Deo. 29,1896.

rear, showing the top closed. Fig. 3 is a ver- UNiTnn STATES PATENT @trici-3.

FRIEDRICH KEIFEL, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

TRUNK AND HINGE THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 574,095, dated December 29, 1896.

Application filed March 23, 189B.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH Kunnen, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of .Ielfersom State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunks and Hinges Therefor; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has relation to trunks or similar receptacles; and among the objects in view is to provide a trunk which is adapted to be set up close against a wall and when in suoli position allow the cover or lid of the trunk to be raised without abutting against the wall, as is the case with the ordinary hinged cover of trunks.

A further object of my invention is to vso hinge the lid or cover that the same may be more easily opened; and with the above and other objects in View my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In order to make the invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying it into practical effect, without limiting my improvements to their useful applications to the particular construction which, for the sake of illustration, I have delineated.

In said drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a trunk having hinges embodying my invention,showing the top thrown open. Fig. 2 is a like view looking from the tical section of a portion of the trunk when in the position seen in Fig. l; Fig. 4, a like View when the top is closed. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the exterior hinge, showing the parts thereof separated.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates the body portion of the trunk, which body por tion may be of the usual or any desired construction.

2 indicates the cover or top of the trunk, conof hinges 3, as seen. Each of said hinges consists of three sections 4, 5, and 6, which are constructed as represented in the drawings,

Serial No. 584,499. (No model.)

that is to say, the section 4 is of right-angular shape, so as to fit snugly over a corner of the trunk-body, and is provided with the integral curved lug 7. The section 5 is also of angular shape, it being bent at right angles at 9 to snugly fit over the vertical edge of the top 2, and also bent at an angle at the point l() to fit over the horizontal edge of said top. The said section 5 is provided with the integral curved lug ll, and each of the sections 4 and 5 is secured to the trunk-body and top, respectively, by means of screws, as shown.

The section (i is flat,`or approximately so, and is provided with slots l2, within which the lugs on the sections 4 and 5 engage, and within which slots said lugs turn freely when the top is being raised and lowered. Thus a hinged connection between the top and the trunk-body is provided.

It will 'loe noted that the upper edge of the section 4 lies between the lower edge of the section 5 and the trunk-body, said section 5 being grooved or recessed, as at 13, to permit such disposition of the parts, and thus provide guide for the top when it is being raised and lowered.

In order to relieve the hinges from the strain produced by the raising and lowering of the top, to partly balance the latter, and to control its movement, I provide upon the interior of the trunk-levers 14, somewhat of an S shape, and pivoted at opposite ends to the trunk-body and top upon pivot studs or pins lo, which pass through socket-pieces 17 and 18, screwed to the trunk-body and top, respectively.

The pieces 18 are of angular shape, so as to fit snugly within the corners of the top 2 and strengthen the latter at that point.

It will be seen that when the top is raised the levers 14 swing upwardly and draw the rear edge of the cover forward, the hinge portion 6 allowing of this movement, andthe sections 4 and 6 of the hinges fold together and lie in contact when the top is fully opened, as seen in Figs. l and 3.

When the top is lowered, the levers 14 swing downwardly and throw the rear edge of the top back toits normal position and the hingesections 6 are caused to again assume the vertical position, all as seen in Figs. 2 and 4.

The sections 6 and lugs 7 and l1 may be so ICO constructed, as shown, that when the links 14 are detached the sections and lugs may be disconnected by sliding them longitudinally relative to each other7 having Iirst been turned relative to each other into proper position, for instance, the position shown in Fig. 3. Then so longitudinally moved, the flat portions of the sections 6 will pass through the open throats of the lugs. The parts 6 and 14 thus constitute a plurality of links acting to control the movement of the top, which is thus fulerumed on two axes.

lVith a narrow box or receptacle a single hinge comprising the parts 4, 5, and 6 and a single link or lever 14 can be employed. A plurality of links 14, though preferred, is not essential in all instances.

The described mode of hinging the top may be adapted to any ordinary style of trunk, box, or chest.

I would state that any desired material of suitable strength may be used in the construction of the hinges, levers, and socketpieces.

In a trunk the combination with the body, the top, and a connecting-link 14, of a hinge connection comprising the open hooks 7 and ll, and the intermediate section 6 having the openings l2, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRIEDRICH KEIFEL.

Witnesses O. J. WILLIAMS, CHRISTIAN NEUMISTER. 

